Gorlok was right, there had been a conspiracy. Zander and I had meticulously planned the battlefield deaths of every chieftain of the Ten and their he...rs to secure my power over the horde. Brock had hated the idea; it was why he voted for mercy even though he despised Gorlok. “Gorlok Hertaki, I bid you to stand.” I said. He did, his chains clanking. “Your actions on the field were cowardly and put the whole horde in jeopardy. For that, I strip you of your title, I erase your family name, and I. This struck the Emir as a good idea, and it was he who suggested that the losing finalists who had not been selected for the semi-finals, could be allowed a public defloration by the honoured guests. The guest judged, by his fellow guests, to have the most flair in performing this defloration would keep their contestant as a personal gift from the Emir. The guest deflorations of the six women would take place before the semi-finals. The honoured guests could be accommodated in the Ruby Palace. I used a shop freezer to freeze the bag and the rats inside before dumping them out. I started cutting heads off and skinning the rats before cleaning them. I let Tiger take the small skins to clean them as I defrosted the bodies and took them down to the stasis cabinet.It was a week before we left, Alex had another bird bat and Jade had three, the other girls each got a couple, one of mom's had hatched her eggs. While we had waited the council had added a dozen flyer transport battery packs to. "No presents other than something like a box of chocolates. There won't be any food either other than nibbles. Booze though."Christopher sucked his breath. "I'm really not sure this is my scene," he said solemnly."Ah! I didn't mention the glamour." Oh, now you're talking. I'd love to come, Ellie love." OK. Any time from six-thirty onwards when you can tear yourself away from that demanding job of yours." I'll just have to hope I'm not too exhausted."There was a very rude noise from the other.